News Analysis India

Tag: Farmers Protest

  • Mayawati urges Centre to withdraw farm laws ahead of Republic Day tractor rally

    Express News Service
    LUCKNOW: Ahead of farmers’ tractor rally on Republic day, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati has urged the Centre to withdraw the new farm laws.

    In a tweet in Hindi, Mayawati said: “To fulfill the demands of the agitating farmers, BSP requests the Central Government to withdraw these farm laws. I hope that no new tradition starts on Republic Day and there is no untoward incident in the national capital.”

    Farmers are expected to march towards Delhi in order to take part in the scheduled tractor rally. Hundreds of tractors along with trolleys are already lined up at the Ghaziabad-Delhi carriageway of the Delhi Meerut Expressway and the beeline has now extended up to Noida.

    The 11th round of talks held between farmers and the government on Friday remained inconclusive after the former insisted on their demand to repeal the three new farm laws and the latter asked them to reconsider its offer to put these laws on hold for about 18 months.

    Meanwhile, all the six entry points in Meerut have been put on round the clock CCTV surveillance. Kharkhauda on Meerut-Bulandshahr highway, Mohideenpur on Delhi-Meerut highway, Jani Nahar Pul on Muradnagar-Khatuali Ganga Nahar, Dadri on Delhi-Doon highway, Shahjahanpur on Meerut-Garhmukteshwar highway, Suroorpur Bhooni roundabout on Meerut-Karnal highway, Ramraj on Meerut–Bijnore highway have been put on 24×7 surveillance with the heavy deployment of police forces.

    Moreover, hundreds of farmer groups are headed to UP Gate from different parts of UP, and Uttarakhand. Most of the farmer groups are using the NH-9 and Delhi-Meerut Road to reach UP Gate in Ghaziabad.

    The farmers joining the UP Gate protesters were allotted tents by the UP Gate farmers’ committee while many have come with their trolleys attached, on which they have set up small huts covered with tarpaulin for shelter.

    “We have asked our farmers to come with trolleys and bring food items for about five-seven days. We have no count of how many will come but they are coming in hundreds and will gather at UP Gate till late Tuesday. We are coordinating with district officials and our volunteers are ready to ensure that our tractorparade goes on in a peaceful manner,” said Rakesh Tikait, farmers’ leader and national spokesperson of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU).

    Meanwhile, farmers camping at the Chilla border are also busy preparing for the rally on January 26, after getting the nod from the Delhi Police.

    As per the sources, farmers said that they would coordinate with the police and district administration to avoid any confrontations and to carry out a peaceful parade.

  • Farmers’ rally in Mumbai only for publicity: Athawale

    The central government is on the farmers #39; side and ready to give justice to the peasants, he asserted.

  • Farmers’ rally in Mumbai: No police nod for march to Raj Bhavan

    By PTI
    MUMBAI: Police have made tight security arrangements at the venue of a farmers’ rally here and protesters are not allowed to march from south Mumbai to the Raj Bhavan, a senior police official said on Monday.

    Thousands of farmers from across Maharashtra have come to participate in a rally at the Azad Maidan in south Mumbai on Monday against the Centre’s three new farm laws.

    The All India Kisan Sabha’s (AIKS) Maharashtra unit on Sunday said the protesters will later march to the Raj Bhavan and submit a memorandum to Governor B S Koshyari over their various demands.

    READ| Farmers raise slogans during their ‘Akhil Bharatiya Kisan Sabha’

    Joint Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Vishwas Nangre Patil said, “As per a Bombay High Court order, no morcha is allowed in south Mumbai and we are convincing representatives of the farmers to follow the court order.

    ” “They are urging us to allow a morcha till the Raj Bhavan, but we have shown them the high court order.

    If they come out of the Azad Maidan to go to the Raj Bhavan, we will try to stop them and allow only their delegation to go to the Raj Bhavan,” the official said.

    Elaborate security arrangements have been made as a large number people come to south Mumbai for work, he said.

    “We don’t want people to face traffic congestion due to the morcha.

    There will be a smooth flow of traffic in south Mumbai,” the official said.

    Two companies of the State Reserve Police Force (SRPF) companies and over 800 personnel of the Mumbai police have been deployed for the rally, he said.

    In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, those participating in the morcha should wear masks, he said.

    The city civic officials, with the help of an NGO, have provided masks and sanitisers at the venue, he said.

    “We are making continuous announcements to maintain social distancing,” the official said.

    Heavy security arrangements, including deployment of women police personnel, have been made at the venue of the rally to tackle any untoward incident, another official said.

    Police personnel in plain clothes are also present at the site, he said.

    The rally is part of a call given by Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), a pro-farmer body, to intensify the struggle till January 26 over various demands of farmers.

    The rally is being held to support and expand the two-month-long farmers’ struggle in Delhi for a repeal of the three farm laws and for a central law to guarantee a remunerative Minimum Support Price (MSP) and procurement all over the country, the AIKS said on Sunday.

  • Farmers protest: More than 1.25 lakh tractors reach Singhu & Tikri borders for January 26 parade

    By Express News Service
    CHANDIGARH: More than 1.25 lakh tractors have reached the Singhu and Tikri borders from Punjab and Haryana to participate in the tractor parade. The farmers have been instructed that no tractor will overtake each other, trolleys will not be allowed in the parade and a maximum of five people including the driver can ride on one tractor. Also some 2,500 volunteers appointed by the farmer union will maintain discipline during the parade.

    Bhartiya Kisan Union, Punjab (Lakhowal Group) General Secretary Harinder Singh Lakhowal said a discipline committee had been formed for the purpose. “As we now have got the route plan, some 2,500 volunteers have been assigned duties.”

    The Sanyukt Kisan Morcha has issued instructions for the farmers to participate in the Republic Day parade.

    As per the instructions, “Farmer leaders will lead the parade in their vehicles. No car or tractor shall overtake their vehicle. Please follow the directions of our traffic volunteers dressed in green jackets. Trolleys will not be allowed in the parade. Only Tractors and other vehicles will be allowed. A maximum of five people including the driver can ride on one tractor. No one will ride on the bonnet, bumper or roof of tractors. Trolleys with special tableaux may be exempted. Please arrange for the safety of the trolley from the behind. Pack twenty four hours of ration and water with you. Make sure you have proper arrangements for protection from cold. It might be required if you are stuck in a traffic jam.”

    The set of instructions further reads, “Sanyukt Kisan Morcha appeals that every tractor or cart should be fitted with the flag of the farmers’ organizations as well as the national flag. There will be no flag of any political party. Do not carry any weapon with you, not even sticks. Do not use banners with any provocative or negative slogans. If you wish to inform of your participation in the parade, give a missed call on 84483 85556. The route for the parade has been pre-decided and marked. Police and traffic volunteers will guide you. Action will be taken against any car or tractor found deviating from the designated route.”

    It has been decided that if any car or tractor halts and occupies an area without any reason, it will be removed by volunteers. All tractors in the parade will return to the starting point after completing the parade. All tractors must proceed in a line and there will be no overtaking throughout the parade. Please don’t overtake the vehicles of farmer leaders leading the parade. Also please don’t play music in the tractor. This will ensure that all announcements are heard by everyone in the parade without any hindrance, the instructions stated.

    It also added that use of any drugs before or during the parade is prohibited. If you find anyone in possession or consuming drugs, please report it to the nearest traffic volunteer.

    Please remember that our intent is to gracefully carry out the parade and win the hearts of our fellow citizens. Please take special care that we have to treat women with utmost respect. Policemen are also farmers in uniform, we don’t have to fight with them. Also please do not pollute the surroundings by throwing garbage on roads. You are kindly advised to carry a bag for disposal of waste.

    The instructions further stated, Kisan Ekta Morcha has made provisions for emergency of every kind, so do not panic if there is any problem, just follow these instructions, ignore any rumors. If you want to check something or verify something, then have a look on the Facebook Page of Kisan Ekta Morcha to verify the truth.

    Also ambulances will be available on parade routes and arrangements have been made with hospitals. If there is a medical emergency, call the helpline number or inform the nearest volunteer. In case of any issue with the tractor or the car, place it on the side and contact the Volunteer or call the helpline. Sanyukt Kisan Morcha’s helpline number will be open for twenty four hours for this parade. If there is any incident, then you can report it to the police control room at number 112 and helpline number 74283 84230.

    Friends, we are about to make history. Never before in history have the people of this republic been part of a parade of this nature on the Republic Day. Through this parade, we have to tell about our plight to the country and the world. We have to bring forth the truth about the three Anti-Farmer Laws. We have to take care that this historical parade is not stained at any cost. Our victory lies in the parade being taken out in a very peaceful manner; without any unwanted events taking place. Remember that our aim is not to conquer Delhi, but to win over the hearts of the people of this country, it added.

    Harsimrat Kaur Badal slams UP govt for not giving diesel to farmers for the tractor rally

    Former Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal  slammed the Union Government for creating hurdles in the tractor parade planned by the farmers to protest against the three farm laws. “After water cannons, tear gas, lathis & NIA cases, now fuel stations in UP ordered not to supply diesel to farmers going for January 26 Tractor March. How many hurdles will BJP-led govt put in the way of farmers? Such oppression only makes farmers more resolute about the agitation,” she tweeted.

     

  • Farm Laws: 50,000 Maharashtra farmers will march towards Raj Bhavan on Monday

    By Express News Service
    More than 50,000 farmers from various regions of Maharashtra will march towards the Raj Bhavan and submit its charter of demands to Governor Bhagat Singh Kosyari on January 25, Monday.

    Repealing the three laws, guaranteeing remunerative Minimum Support Price (MSP), procurement of farm crops as per MSP only, repealing all four labour laws and withdrawal of the Energy Bill are some of the demands included in the charter.

    ALSO READ | KRRS threatens roadblocks if permission denied for Bengaluru tractor rally on Republic Day

    “To support the ongoing protest in Delhi against farm laws, vehicle rallies are being carried out in several states. In Maharashtra, All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) had started its march for Mumbai. From Nashik alone, 20,000 farmers had joined the march and we are expecting 50,000 farmers will reach in Mumbai on January 25 from other parts of the state. Then, we will march towards Raj Bhavan and hand over a charter of demands to the governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari,” said Ashok Dhawale, president of AIKS.

    The various farmer organisations are participating in the protest under the banner of Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM). The aim of this agitation is to intensify the farmers’ struggle in the capital cities across all states demanding repealing of the farm laws. The farmers also walked down seven kilometres up to Kasara Ghat and then by the vehicle they reached to Mumbai. The farmers offered food and other refreshments on their way by various social organisations.

    ALSO READ | Uttarakhand village bans entry for members, leaders of ‘anti-farmer’ BJP 

    The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sharad Pawar, Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray, Maharashtra Congress president Balasaheb Thorat and other Maha Vikas Aghadi leaders will participate in this farmers protest and address the mega farmers rally at Azad Maidan on January 25, Monday.

    Ajit Nawale, secretary of All India Kisan Sabha said that “The three farm laws of the centre are anti-farmer, anti-people and pro-corporate. The farmers at Delhi border have been protesting from last several days to repeal them. We want to show the solidarity with these farmers,” Nawale said adding the protest will culminate with a flag hoisting on January 26, Republic Day.

  • Enter at your own risk: Uttarakhand village bans entry for members, leaders of ‘anti-farmer’ BJP 

    Express News Service
    DEHRADUN: As farmers agitation continues against the newly framed farm laws, a village in Uttarakhand has banned the entry of Bhartiya Janta Party members, workers and leaders. 

    Posters, banners and hoardings have come up in Malpuri village of Udham Singh Nagar district warning the ‘Anti-Farmer’ BJP workers and leaders.  The banners further warn that if they venture into the village, none will be responsible for their ‘security’. 

    Suba Singh, former village pradhan said, “A total of 70 farmers have sacrificed their lives for the movement and the BJP led government is still adamant. We are not letting anyone from the BJP to enter our village. If the party doesn’t care for us we don’t care for them.”

    Paramjit Singh, another resident of the village said, “The people are angry and if the party leaders or members come to the village, they will have to face the inevitable. The only way forward is that the government moves back on the farm laws which are not good for the farmers.”

    The state BJP leaders were not available for the comment. 

    Farmers from the district have been actively supporting the Delhi-NCR protests. More than 20,000 farmers from the district have already joined others in Delhi at the protest site.

    More than 3,000 farmers from Uttarakhand’s Udham Singh Nagar district will drive their tractors to Gazipur on the Delhi border on January 23 to participate in the kisan tractor parade on Republic Day in the national capital. 

    Earlier this month, farmers from the district of have started free bus service to ferry farmers to Delhi at the protest site. The service is available two days a week- Monday and Thursday. 

    The expenses of the service is being borne by local Gurudwara committees for now and the plan is to expand the service to 3-4 days soon. 

    In December 2020, Uttarakhand state police registered case against over 1000 farmers after they marched towards Delhi breaking the barricading by Udham Singh Nagar district police. 

    The police had tried to stop the farmers by force responding to which the farmers defied the ban and went ahead. 

    The case had been registered under sections 147 (Rioting), 148 (Rioting, armed with deadly weapon), 332 (Voluntarily causing hurt to deter public servant from his duty), 353 (Assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty.), 353 (Disobedience to order duly promulgated by a public servant.), 269 (Negligent act likely to spread infection of disease danger¬ous to life.) and under 51 b of Disaster Management Act 2005.

    The district with 42% of agricultural produce leads among 13 districts of Uttarakhand state in terms of agriculture and is also known as the food bowl of the state. With a variety of crops like rice, wheat, maize, barley, sugarcane and others the district produces enough to fulfill food requirements of the population of state of over 1.15 crore. 

    The ‘terai’ district is known for the cultivation of the crops like rice, wheat, sugarcane, maize and soybean and cropping pattern is an ideal way to spot the trend of the various crops grown across various parts of the district. 

  • Tractor rally: Farmers’ movement toward Delhi keeps UP police on toes

    Express News Service
    LUCKNOW: With hundreds of farmers already on the move and gathered at the UP-Delhi border to take part in tractor parade on the Republic Day, Uttar Pradesh police have sounded a high alert across the state, especially, western UP and Agra.

    The UP Police brass held a meeting on Sunday evening to chalk out a strategy to tackle with the issue, a day after they foiled the attempt of hundreds of farmers’ to reach Raj Bhawan in Lucknow. Meanwhile, over 100 farmer leaders were put under house arrest in west UP, while police conducted strict checking of vehicles at district borders and stopped tractors from proceeding to Delhi.

    ALSO READ | More batches of farmers from Punjab head for Delhi to take part in R-Day tractor parade 

    Farmer leaders alleged that fuel stations were also told by police to not give diesel to tractors. The copy of an order issued by Ghazipur districts of eastern UP went viral in which fuel pump owners were requested not to give diesel to tractors. “You must be aware that high alert has been sounded in the state and Section 144 clamped in view of the Republic Day. Farmers have also announced to take out tractor march. Therefore, you are advised not to sell diesel to any tractor or in a can….” an order issued by station officer of Sohawal police station in Ghazipur says.

    Ghazipur SP Om Prakash Singh though says that the order was issued by the SO two days ago and has been withdrawn. “It was just to advise pump owners that they should give fuel only to tractors which have full fitness to minimise accidents on the highway,” he said.

    Barricades had been put up to stop protestors from eastern UP districts following the announcement of farmers planning to gather in the capital and protesting at Raj Bhawan. Around 16 members of BKU were reportedly put under house arrest in Mahoba. Moreover, there have been hectic rounds of discussions between the officials of the Uttar Pradesh police and farmers’ leaders at UP Gate in which all security, traffic and other arrangements were being reviewed and fine-tuned.

    ALSO READ | KRRS threatens roadblocks if permission denied for Bengaluru tractor rally on Republic Day

    Sources said security arrangements were beefed up at the UP Gate protest site and the estimated number of security personnel there may reach about 5,000-6,000 in coming days. According to Praveen Kumar, inspector general (Meerut range), police officials were in touch with the farmers’ leaders at UP Gate. The IG also said that farmers would not be stopped from entering Delhi if the Delhi police would allow them to move in.

    “There will be no use of force. Police personnel have been roped in from different districts in western UP, besides deployment of rapid action force and other security personnel. At UP Gate, we are working with the volunteers of the farmers’ unions to ensure that there is no movement of outsiders at the site,” he maintained.

    ALSO READ | Thousands of farmers to reach Mumbai for January 25 rally against farm laws

    The farmers’ leaders said that tractors have already begun their journey from different areas in UP and Uttarakhand and are expected to reach the site by January 24 or 25. The entire UP Gate area is divided into sectors and zones and is being monitored through the control room with the help of CCTVs. The police have also roped in local intelligence units to ensure that the protest remains peaceful and anti-social elements are kept at bay.

  • ‘Murderous attack’: Congress MP Ravneet Singh Bittu assaulted at Singhu border, turban pulled off

    By PTI
    CHANDIGARH: Congress MP Ravneet Singh Bittu was Sunday allegedly assaulted, pushed around and his turban pulled off in what he described was a “murderous attack” by some “mischievous elements” at the Singhu border during a ‘Jan Sansad’ programme.

    The Ludhiana MP’s vehicle was also damaged in the attack at the Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji Memorial where he had gone with Congress’ Amritsar MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla and party MLA Kulbir Singh Zira to attend the event.

    “Some mischievous elements whose intentions were unknown, tried to spoil the situation by launching a murderous attack on three of us,” Bittu said in a Facebook post.

    ALSO READ | More batches of farmers from Punjab head for Delhi to take part in R-Day tractor parade

    Bittu, the grandson of former Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh who was assassinated in 1995, Aujla and Zira have been holding a protest at the Jantar Mantar in Delhi for the past several days in support of the ongoing farmers’ agitation against the Centre’s three agriculture laws.

    Bittu claimed a few people thrashed him near the memorial and pulled off his turban.

    He described the incident as a “murderous attack”.

    Bittu was also pushed around by angry protesters.

    In the melee, Zira’s turban also came off.

    Some people were trying to save him and escorted him to his vehicle.

    ALSO WATCH:

    However, even as Bittu entered into his vehicle, a group of people attacked his SUV with sticks, broke its glass panes, rear windscreen and damaged its front windshield.

    The reason why Bittu was attacked was not immediately clear.

    In his Facebook post, Bittu also said they were fine and blamed some “mischievous elements” for the incident.

    He wrote that he along with Zira and Aujla had gone to attend Jan Sansad at Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji Memorial.

    Zira also blamed “some mischievous people” for the attack, saying farmers could not indulge in such activity.

  • Madhya Pradesh government trying to crush farmers’ voice: Kamal Nath

    By PTI
    INDORE: Madhya Pradesh Congress president Kamal Nath on Sunday hit out at the state government for use of force on his party workers during a protest in Bhopal against the Centre’s three new farm laws, and alleged that the government was trying to crush the voice of farmers.

    Nath led a farmers’ tractor rally in Depalpur, about 50 km from Indore, to protest against the new agri laws.

    He was seen driving a tractor himself in an agriculture-dominated area.

    On Saturday, Congress workers protesting against the three agri laws clashed with police and allegedly hurled stones while on their way to gherao the Raj Bhavan in Bhopal, prompting police to use water cannons, tear gas and canes to disperse them, officials earlier said.

    Talking to reporters in Depalpur on Sunday, Nath said, “The administration in Bhopal tried to crush the voice of farmers.

    The (ruling) Bharatiya Janata Party does not understand that farmers comprise the largest community in our country.” The former state chief minister alleged that the central government was trying to privatise the country’s farming sector through the three new agricultural laws.

    “Lakhs of farmers have been agitating against the three black laws at Delhi borders since many days.

    These laws will destroy the economy of our state and the country as they will reduce the purchasing power of farmers, causing the markets to collapse,” Nath said.

    He also targeted the Shivraj Singh Chauhan-led state government over the death of 24 people after consuming spurious liquor in Morena district recently, crimes against women and unemployment.

    “I appeal to the people to understand the truth and support the truth to secure their future,” Nath said.

    Before taking part in the tractor rally, Nath visited a temple in Depalpur.

    Enacted in September last year, the three laws have been projected by the Centre as major reforms in the agriculture sector that will remove middlemen and allow farmers to sell their produce anywhere in the country.

    Thousands of farmers, mostly from Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh, have been camping at several border points of Delhi, demanding a repeal of the three farm laws.

    Multiple rounds of talks between the government and farmer unions have failed to break the impasse so far, while the Supreme Court has appointed a panel for resolution of the issue.

  • Protesting farmers assure ‘Kisan Gantantra Parade’ will be peaceful

    By ANI
    NEW DELHI: Protesting farmers at Tikri border on Sunday assured that they will hold peaceful tractor rallies on January 26 to mark ‘Kisan Gantantra Parade’.

    “We feel elated that the police gave us permission to hold tractor rallies on January 26. There are around 2.5 lakh tractors at Tikri border,” said Tajinder Singh, a farmer at the Delhi-Haryana border.

    Another farmer, Gurpreet, said “We will peacefully take out the tractor march and do the roadshow with the presence of Delhi Police.”

    Farmers from all across the country are marching towards Delhi in order to take part in the scheduled rally. Tractors from Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan have reached on Tikri border as the farmers sit in for protest on the 60th day.

    The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) has asked the farmers to take part in the agitation from January 23 to 26, including rallies to the Governors of states. The farmers also arrived at the Singhu border as they plan to conduct the rally on Delhi’s outer ring road.

    Farmers have been protesting on the different borders of the national capital since November 26 against the three newly enacted farm laws – Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020; the Farmers Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and farm Services Act 2020 and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020.